Is there a need for both an URL and a PDF_URL field?

dublin

Should Zotero have a PDF URL field as well as an URL field?

In terms of icons in the browser:
<meta name="citation_dissertation_institution" content="Big College" /> is interpreted as a thesis.

<meta name="citation_conference_title" content="The Future of Bibliography" /> is a conference paper.

<meta name="citation_journal_title" content="Asteroid Sculptors Monthly" /> is a journal.

<meta name="citation_technical_report_institution" content="Reports Institute" /> is a report from an institute.

It is not obligatory that any of the above should be a PDF document so the metadata:
<meta name="citation_pdf_url" content="http://www.documents.com/original_document.pdf" /> may indicate a document that is not the URL.

This struck me when I noticed that rather than the PDF URL appearing in Zotero the URL was appearing. The reason was that:
<meta property="og:url" content="http://www.somewebsite.com/page_address" /> was taking priority over the above citation_pdf_url.
A web page can enhance a document considerably but at the same time it is important to retain a copy of the original document as published on a certain date. So there may be a case for having both an URL and a PDF address.

Ps: Many thanks for Zotero it is a wonderful tool.

fbennett

When a PDF is downloaded by a Zotero translator and attached to an item, its original URL is recorded in the attachment - expose item attachments in the middle pane by typing "+", then click on an attachment. The URL is at the top of the Info panel on the right. So it's there when you need it. I'm not sure it would make sense to include that URL in item metadata, though, since PDF URLs are less likely to be stable, and are sometimes valid only for an individual browser session.

dublin

Thanks for the prompt response and I agree that the URL should take priority over the PDF. I see too that the PDF is included as a sub item.

There is still an academic issue in that it would be useful to have some idea of the evolution of an article from its original form and how it might differ to the current web version. I suspect this might make a case for shifting the PDF, or its first iteration as a web document, to GitHub and will now explore this avenue. So not a Zotero issue.

bulrush

YES. The EPA recently removed a link to a PDF of a study about glyphosate, but in some cases, they will forget to remove the actual PDF, which people will want when they find out the EPA is trying to hide the study. If one has the direct link to the PDF one will still be able to grab it.